Chapter 241 Punishment
With a shout, a soft golden light flashed, and Jieyin and Zhunti appeared out of thin air in front of everyone.
Laozi paused slightly, then a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes. He stroked his beard gently, his gaze gentle yet scrutinizing, and asked, "Brother Jieyin, Brother Zhunti, what brings you two here today?"
Jieyin clasped his hands together, nodded slightly, and said with a compassionate smile, “Brother Laojun, we have come here because Yang Jiao has a karmic connection with our Western Sect. Our Western Sect cultivates good karma and saves all sentient beings. We have come to guide him into our sect so that he may cultivate the supreme enlightenment.”
Zhunti added with a smile, “Indeed, Brother Laojun. Yang Jiao is exceptionally intelligent and has outstanding potential. If he could join our Western Sect, he would surely bring glory to our sect and also achieve great liberation and freedom for himself. We cannot bear to see him sinking into this mortal world, so we have come here.”
Having said that, ignoring the wary gazes of the crowd, the two nodded slightly to Yang Jiao. They had arrived a little early, huh? They hadn't expected Laozi to come, and were afraid he'd try to take them away.
Tianpeng glanced at Laozi, then at the newly appeared Jieyin Zhunti Daoist, and finally his gaze fell on Yang Jiao. He couldn't help but ponder: what kind of person is this eldest son of the Yang family that so many people are paying attention to him?
I have a feeling that the Jade Emperor was making an example of someone... no, using his own sister to establish his authority... no, anyway, it means that the plan to exterminate the entire family is definitely not going to work out.
Thinking about it this way, Tianpeng was delighted. These two had come at the perfect time.
Noticing the deliberate eye contact between the two and Yang Jiao, Laozi's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at Yang Jiao and asked, "Yang Jiao, do you want to join the Western Sect?"
"Jiao'er".
Yao Ji gripped his arm tightly and shook her head at him.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Yang Jiao smiled reassuringly at Yao Ji and the others, then turned to Laozi and said, "Yes, I have already agreed. After this is over, I will follow the two Daoists to cultivate."
The matter is settled, but what counts as settled?
Even the two younger children, Yang Jian and Yang Chan, understood the profound meaning behind those two short words.
"Big brother..."
With red eyes, Yang Jian and Yang Chan tugged at Yang Jiao's sleeve. They didn't want their elder brother to go to the Western Religion, and they didn't want him to sacrifice himself for them.
The Great Golden Crow had no interest in their tender moments and coldly questioned, "Are you using the Western religion to suppress the Heavenly Court?"
The guide, with a kind expression, said: "Excellent. We are merely concerned about the lives of our followers. How could we possibly have a conflict with the Heavenly Court?"
Tianpeng's lips twitched, and he hurriedly stepped forward to pull the Great Golden Crow away. He even suspected that the Guide Daoist knew the Great Golden Crow's temper and was deliberately pretending to be innocent to add fuel to the fire.
The Great Golden Crow is also a bit too aggressive. Is it someone you can defeat, that's why it makes a move?
"Later, at times like these, we need Laozi to come."
Tianpeng dragged the giant golden crow backward. Jieyin was a little disappointed when he saw this, as he wanted to help another golden crow. It was a pity.
No one spoke, but Yang Jiao, who had caused this situation, calmly asked again: "Now, let me ask you, Laozi, what price do we need to pay? Can you decide that?"
Laozi smacked his lips lightly. He had previously thought that Yang Jian would bring some new changes to the Heavenly Court in the future, but he didn't expect that the brothers would be more and more powerful than each other. Yang Jiao was about to teach the Heavenly Court a lesson.
Laozi glanced at the confident Jieyin and Zhunti, and chuckled inwardly. Letting Yang Jiao join the Western Sect was no different from releasing a tiger back into the forest. He hoped they would be laughing about it later.
"The affairs of Heaven are naturally decided by the Jade Emperor. I will send a message to the Jade Emperor."
If he were truly devoted to the Heavenly Court, he wouldn't be hiding in the Thirty-Three Heavens refining elixirs.
What difference does it make whose misery he's watching? Heavenly Court and Western Religion, bring them on one by one, he's really looking forward to it.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Laozi slightly moved his fingertips, and a wisp of green smoke quickly drifted into the sky.
Soon, auspicious clouds surged in the void, radiating brilliant light. The Jade Emperor, clad in a magnificent dragon robe and wearing a crown, exuded an aura of majesty; the Queen Mother, in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, was dignified, yet subtly carried a hint of fierceness. The two slowly descended from the clouds and stepped into the courtyard of the Yang residence.
The Jade Emperor's gaze swept over the crowd like lightning, finally settling on Jieyin and Zhunti. He suppressed his raging anger, his voice low and cold: "Two leaders, what exactly is your intention here? Do you intend to openly interfere in the affairs of my Heavenly Court?"
With his hands clasped together and a compassionate smile still on his face, Jieyin calmly said, “Your Majesty, please calm your anger. We two have absolutely no intention of interfering in the affairs of the Heavenly Court. It is simply that this Yang Jiao has a karmic connection with our Western Sect. We uphold the doctrine of saving all sentient beings and have come here specifically to guide him into our sect. Before he joins, helping him with some household matters is merely a courtesy that our Western Sect should fulfill, and we have no other intentions.”
Zhunti quickly echoed, "Indeed, Your Majesty. Our Western Sect has always kept to itself and the Heavenly Court. This is merely a coincidence. I hope Your Majesty will understand."
The Jade Emperor suppressed his anger, his chest heaving slightly, a fleeting look of displeasure in his eyes.
The Queen Mother then turned her gaze to Yao Ji, her eyes filled with reproach and questioning: "Yao Ji, as the goddess of the Desire Realm in Heaven, you descended to the mortal realm to capture the Three-Headed Dragon, yet you yourself succumbed to worldly desires. Do you know that this violates the Heavenly Laws and is an unforgivable sin!"
“Yao Ji knows her mistake and is willing to accept punishment. The three-headed dragon has already been subdued and suppressed by Yuanshi Tianzun under Kunlun Mountain. Yao Ji has not violated her duty. She only begs Your Majesty and Your Majesty to spare my three children.”
Yang Tianyou explained again, “Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this matter is indeed my fault. Yao Ji and I share a heart and are connected by emotions, which caused her to develop worldly desires. Now we ask for nothing more than Your Majesty and Your Majesty to show leniency and forgive our three children, who are innocent.”
At this moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother, wondering what decision they would make.
The Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother exchanged a glance. The Jade Emperor's meaning was clear: Yao Ji must be punished. Without punishment, the Jade Emperor's authority would not be established, nor would he be able to intimidate the immortals.
The Heavenly Laws are a derivative of the Great Dao's laws and the foundation of the Heavenly Court's current strength. Upholding the Heavenly Laws is upholding the Heavenly Court's rule, so the Jade Emperor must never yield.
However, the fact that the Heavenly Court needs to rely on the Heavenly Laws to maintain its authority and legitimacy also proves that the Heavenly Court is currently weak. That's why the two of them personally descended to the mortal realm, ultimately because they didn't want to offend the two Western Saints.
Caught in a dilemma, the Queen Mother offered the Jade Emperor a suggestion: "Yao Ji, as a goddess, you have violated the heavenly rules. Even if there are extenuating circumstances, you should still be punished."
Seeing that Yao Ji was holding the child and not allowing them to object, the Queen Mother nodded slightly in satisfaction and continued, "Your Majesty, Yao Ji descended to the mortal realm to hunt down the Three-Headed Flood Dragon. Now that the Three-Headed Flood Dragon is suppressed under Kunlun Mountain, why not also suppress Yao Ji, so that she can never escape it for all eternity?"
"As for Yang Tianyou," the Queen Mother looked at this man she had previously disregarded, "you said the child was innocent and that it was because you and Yao Ji shared a heart, then you will be punished the same as Yao Ji, imprisoned in one place, but never allowed to see each other again until death."
The Jade Emperor nodded, "Examples of punishment while alive are perhaps more memorable than those of death. Agreed."
"As long as my three children are spared, Yao Ji can agree."
Yang Tianyou and she exchanged a glance, and Yang Tianyou replied firmly, "I, Yang Tianyou, can also agree."
"Father, Mother!"
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